Freud Museum

Located at 20 Maresfield Gardens in Hampstead, the Freud Museum is situated at the house in which Sigmund Freud and his family lived after they fled the Nazis from Austria in 1938. This remained the family home until the death of Freud's daughter Anna in 1982. Visitors are given the unique opportunity to visit Freud's study- preserved exactly as it was at the time of his death. Within the Museum are more than two thousand antiques, collected by Freud and ranging from Greek, Egyptian, Roman and Oriental. The walls too are adorned with library shelves containing the immense volumes of reference material Freud used in his tireless research. As well as being an insight into the life of Sigmund Freud, his privileged position meant that he was able to import his possessions from Austria and there are many fine paintings and furnishings on display. Undoubtedly the most famous piece of furniture is his psychoanalytic couch, draped in a lavish Iranian rug and covered with Chenille pillows- to many the very symbol of Freud's work. The Museum is also an insight into the life of Anna Freud- herself an important figure in Psychoanalysis, particularly in children. The on-site gift shop contains many books on the life and work of the Freuds and the Museum itself is the site for many temporary exhibitions and seminars.